Talks 2025

 Talks are now being organised by Carl Gomez who is also looking after the membership.

The list of talks for 2025 is almost complete. We hope to hold them at 7.30pm in the Council Chamber, but that is not certain yet. Full details of all talk will appear on the website when we have them.

Jan 30th - Flis Tattersall on the Shouting Softly project

27th Feb - Mike Allen on the Cerne Abbas Giant

27th Mar - Ann Rachel Harwood on Antarctic Explorer Edward Adrian Wilson

24th Apr- Seriously ...- Miles Franklin and Claire Parsons

29th May - Mark Golder on the artist Stephen Russ

26th June - Michael Gray on the history of Tarot Card art

31st July - Gavin Jones on the art of Tattooing 

28th Aug - Kirsty Hartsiotis on Stained glass in the Arts and Craft movement

Sep 25th tbc

30th Oct tbc

27th Nov - Phillip Garrahan on Swindon Art in the Age of Steam 

Artists in Purbeck: Sense of Place

 I visited this exhibition, Artists in Purbeck: Spirit of Place at Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum at the beginning of January after hearing about the exhibition from its Guest Curator, Dr Gill Clarke MBE who is well known to many of us having been kind enough to give several talks over the years. 

From Swindon it is possible to travel on the train to Bournemouth in 2 hours with one change at Reading, making it feasible to make the trip in a day. I took photos of the exhibition and a few more, of course. The day was very sunny with a cloudless sky, making the outside of Russell-Cotes look even more magnificent than usual:

By the front entrance there was a lovely selection of tender succulents looking undamaged by frost, this was before the hard frosts of the last week.

We had lunch in the Russell-Cotes cafe; here are Sarah and Lyn seen below sitting in front of the enlarged facsimile of one of the paintings of Corfe Castle in the exhibition.

There's a temporary exhibition space at R-C comprising two rooms, below there's a photo of the entrance to the exhibition with the Corfe Castle painting at the centre and depicting the Purbeck area with some information about the exhibition on the right hand side. This area is known as the 'Isle of Purbeck' constituting about sixty square miles with sea on three sides. The dramatic landscape has attracted artists to this area over the twentieth century and this is the first major exhibition devoted to some of the major artists who painted in the area, The Swanage News also had a big spread on the exhibition and also noted the lovely seat in the cafe.

The best way of appreciating the exhibition is to visit, but here are a few of my favourite pieces from the exhibition:

Above this is 'The Blue Pool', 1910, by Augustus John, the blue pool is a landlocked pool near Furzebrook, long since ceased to be a site for Purbeck Ball Clay extraction for tobacco pipe manufacture and pottery, the pool always looks a vibrant blue colour. This is caused by the light refraction of clay particles suspended in the water. John wrote 'This pool.... is always a beautiful turquoise blue, no matter what the sky is like.' The model in the painting is one of his favourite models, Dorelia McNeil.

This is another more recent watercolour and pastel on paper rendition of the 'Blue Pool', 2022 by Felicity House drawn and painted on site. Makes me want to go and visit, although it has been developed into a tourist attraction.

On loan from Pallant House Gallery, this painting 'Near Swanage', 1916 by Mark Gertler is stunning in any exhibition, here it looks wonderfully at home. When he painted this work, he was staying with his patron at Peveril House, he described the 'wonderful country here' to Dora Carrington, he explained: 'from every window one gets a good enough view for painting. The sea surrounds the house on two sides. There is just a bit of garden and then cliff, below which is open sea.'

And a further wow on seeing this acrylic and mixed media piece by Jeremy Gardiner, entitled 'Old Harry Rocks V, 2022 which are captured wonderfully by Jeremy Gardiner. 'Old Harry' was one of twenty locations on the Jurassic Coast painted by him between 2018 and 2022for his series 'Strata'.

Above 'Spray', 1940 by Harold Williamson is a very well known painting probably the location was Dancing Ledge near Swanage where the flat rock juts into the sea and was a site for quarrying stone. Williamson was an art teacher at Bournemouth School of Art and Manchester School of Art. His students where in awe of his life drawing skills and knowledge of anatomy admirably displayed here in the woman's back muscles.

'Coastline Series No.1', 1993 by Martin Brewster is an etching on paper. He has been drawing around the Dorset coast for over thirty five years. The beauty of the promontory has been wonderfully captured along with a small row of coastguard cottages and a chapel which can't be seen in the photo.

My final selection from the many I could have chosen from the exhibition is the one above. It's 'Corfe Castle in the Beauteous Isle of Purbeck', 1940 by Isabel Saul and is tempera on board. This magnificent highly detailed painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1940. It's unsurprising that Saul also produced illustrations for children's books.

This wonderful exhibition left me wanting to find out more about the Isle of Purbeck and visit The blue Pool, Dancing Ledge, Peveril House and Old Harry Rocks. I think a trip to the Isle of Purbeck is necessary to fully understand this exhibition which runs until 16 March.

There is so much to see at R-C apart from the temporary exhibition that I have severely restricted my choices of the 'best bits'. I love William de Morgan tiles and there is a wonderful display at R-C, here one of them above. It's hard to photograph them because of reflections on their case

This painting entitled 'Painter and Model' is by John Minton. It was purchased through the Contemporary Arts Society in 1954 and is a stunning work featuring the artist in the background. The feet of the model are exquisitely depicted and because it's such a large painting, it's a real knock out when you enter the room.

OK the last photo from inside the gallery. 'Gypsy Horse Drovers', 1894 by Lucy Kemp-Welch was exhibited at the Royal Academy while she was still a student. It's a fabulous piece among so many other paintings which could have been included. 

Having spent hours looking at paintings, we went for a cream tea in the cafe and as we emerged from Russell-Cotes, the sun was setting behind the pier.

What a perfect day. Do go and visit the Artists in Purbeck: Spirit of Place exhibition before 16 March if you can.

Other posts on Russell-Cotes include these two:

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October Talk: Curator of the Hardy's Wessex Exhibition

 We  were very fortunate to be able to welcome Harriet Still, one of the UK's leading experts on Thomas Hardy for our October talk. She curated the 2022 Hardy celebration that took place at Dorset Museum, Poole Museum, The Salisbury Museum and Wiltshire Museum, and has now travelled to Museum and Art Swindon.

 She studied English and History at the University of York before managing Hardy's Cottage on behalf of the National Trust. Since this introduction to Hardy, over a decade ago, she has sat on the Council of Management for the Thomas Hardy Society and the Hardy Country steering group, as well as acted in various Hardy productions with the New Hardy Players and played in the Hardy folk band Tatterdemalion. Interestingly Tatterdemalion are holding a Ceilidl tonight at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester. Wish I was nearer Dorchester, sounds like a very interesting band.

Harriet as the Curator of the exhibition and a leading expert on Hardy was able to talk us through his life through the artefacts still in existence, many of which are in the exhibition.

Harriet Still seen below was able to give us a fascinating insight into Thomas Hardy and answered an impressive number of diverse questions after the talk. 

I have been a lifelong admirer of Hardy since I read many of his works in my teens and was captivated by the 1967 film version of Far From the Madding Crowd starring Julie Christie and Terence Stamp. There has been at least one other version since that one, but I don't think anyone could surpass Stamp's depiction of Sergeant Troy.

Are we in Wessex in Swindon? Of course it's a mythical place, but nice to know we're within Wessex.

I realise these photos taken from the screen in the Council Chamber aren't very good, but give a flavour of topics covered. This one depicts urban Wessex, rural Wessex, ancient Wessex and coastal Wessex.

Hardy was born in 1840  in Dorchester and lived until he was 87, in that time he wrote 14novels, several short stories and thousands of poems. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature 25 times and was considered an excellent writer.

Hardy's Cottage can be visited to find out more about where he grew up. There's a great blog post by BaldHiker with many excellent photos and interesting information here.

Hardy had a social conscience as can be appreciated from reading his books, he was interested in equality for women, looking after the poor, employment rights and improving the lot of everyone.

If you haven't already seen the Hardy exhibition at Museum and Art Swindon on the first floor of the civic Offices in Euclid St, it's on until the 8th of February this year. And did you know how the shepherd uses a shepherd's crook to catch sheep?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seen through the artwork of Harold Dearden (1888-1969)

 Our September talk was given by Philip Dearden, grandson of the artist Harold Dearden. Philip has been researching the paintings and life of his grandfather over the last year, and discovered many paintings he produced over his life. 

The first couple of slides summarise Harold Dearden's life from being born in Rochdale, attending Rochdale School of Art, attending the Royal College of Art, then teaching art at York, Halifax and Gloucester schools of art until he came to Swindon where he taught art for 30 years and was immersed in the art scene in Swindon.

One hundred years after Harold's graduation, in 2015, the 193 countries that make up the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This historic agenda lays out 17 Sustainable Development Goals and targets for dignity, peace and prosperity for the planet and humankind, to be completed by the year 2030.

Philip grouped  selected paintings together according to their subject matter, and encouraged the audience with an SDG. I have taken a few photos of the slides to illustrate what was shown:

The first ones have been done, and show what a marvellous diversity of images there are, and how well they reflect the different times

It's quite difficult to see them with so many paintings on each slide

I'll make them larger, but the best way of looking at them is to watch a recording of Philip talking which can be found by clicking here

 You will see included in the next slides, the paintings Salubritas et Industria, the Swindon motto. Below are two photos of the Salubritas painting, meaning health. The one on the left was photographed from the original painting which originally hung in the Town Hall and ended up rolled up in a skip, found by Terry Court and currently rolled up in storage

Are these Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth possibly. You can see the Industria painting bottom left in poor condition like the one above. The coat of arms and explanation of it can be found here.

The paintings below illustrate Goal 15: Life on land: protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems

The talk was wonderfully informative and visually stunning. I'm pleased there's a recording of it because this post does not do it justice, but gives an idea of what Harold Dearden's work is like. There are quite a few examples of his work in the Swindon Collection and I hope there will be an exhibition dedicated to his work before long.

 

The Arts and Crafts Movement in the Cotswolds

 Kirsty Hartsiotis gave our August lecture in the Council Chamber, an excellent tour through the history and relevance of the Arts and Crafts movement based in the Cotswolds. Kirsty is giving a talk tonight on Medieval Stained Glass to the Winchcombe history group. I would love to have gone if I didn't have a committee meeting. 

Kirsty started by talking about The Great Exhibition in 1851 which was technically very good, this may have spawned a group of people who wanted to make things in small workshops mimicking the medieval workshops. Some of those included in this workshop movement were The Morris and Burne-Jones families seen here together in 1874 and inset Philip Webb in 1873.

The Arts and Crafts movement was a state of mind, a way of making things in a simple way, whether it was furniture, houses, hair combs, they were simple forms inspired by nature. High quality materials were used and the objects were made in small workshops

Examples of stained glass made by Burne-Jones and Ford Maddox Brown among others for Morris, Marshall & Faulkner abound from this time. Many had trained at Birmingham School of Art 

The Cotswolds at that time afforded cheap housing in wonderful countryside which is why so many of those involved in the movement lived there. 10 years ago to the day, we visited the chapel at Marlborough College where there are stained glass windows designed by Burne-Jones and fantastic pre Raphaelite paintings by John Spencer-Stanhope.

During this time William Morris moved to Kelmscott and Sidney and Ernest Barnsely and Ernest Gimson built 3 houses together using traditional building techniques. Rodmarton Manor is one of those houses, and also Cotswold Farm, 

Above more things made at this time, the Iznik influences charger

Above a gorgeous black mare made by William Simmonds

and a necklace made by Ashbee who was based in Chipping Campden, I think.

There was so much information imparted by Kirsty who until recently worked at The Wilson, if you click on the link, you can find more information on the Arts and Crafts Movement. 

The Friends have donated £500 to discover what is inside a Roman Bucket acquired fairly recently by MAS and Kirsty was fortunately able to show us what was found inside:

I think the bucket will go on display with explanations before long

The vase inside the bucket looks much younger and there's something else in there which I couldn't really see.

It was certainly very exciting seeing the contents of the bucket and also hearing about the arts and crafts virtually on our doorstep.

Wilfrid Wright on Elisabeth Frink 25 July

 We had a busy evening on Thursday 25 July with the Friends' celebration of the opening of Museum & Art Swindon held on the first floor to give people an opportunity to look round. There were drinks and nibbles followed by a speech made by the Chair, appealing for more members to join the Friends' committee and thanking the 60 or so people who came for coming. We were also celebrating the move of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery from Apsley House into bigger premises at the Civic Offices and its transformation into Museum & Art Swindon.

After the celebrations we were treated to a wonderful lecture on Elisabeth Frink by Wilfrid Wright who has written on Frink and researched the essence of her work. He has contributed a chapter to the book accompanying the exhibition: A View from Within:

Wilfrid is a very engaging speaker who took us right to the heart of Frink, her motivations and ways of working. I don't have any photos of the gathering or the presentation because I was downstairs selling tickets for the talk and then unbeknown to me left my phone in the downstairs toilet.

The Frink exhibition is excellent and very well presented and laid out. I do have a photo of it:

If anyone took photos that evening, please send them to me and I'll add them here.

Pebble Mosaics in Cavendish Square

 Maggy Howarth who created unique pebble mosaics has died aged 79. Attracted by the appearance of the design in her Guardian obituary, I was amazed when I read that Thamesdown Borough Council commissioned two of her pebble mosaics in 1990 for Cavendish Square. I haven't heard anything about them, so thought I'd look up Cavendish Square Swindon, and there's nothing there either. It is however on the Swindon Index website where it says that one of the pebble mosaics had to be relocated to the lawn outside St. John's church due to restructuring of Cavendish Square.

Both mosaics appear on the Art UK website, two of ten entries. They looked lovely and not believing I had never heard of them, I walked over to have a look. 

This is the mosaic situated at the entrance to Cavendish Square. It has a fishy watery them with a sailing boat which seems quite strange since Swindon is about as far from the sea as you can get in the country. Maybe someone knows why this subject was chosen?

The other mosaic outside the church is much easier to understand. Maggy has depicted three birds with a steam engine inside on, a white horse in another and a cottage in the third.

Above the mosaic and below two close ups, the first with the steam engine inside:

and this one with a white horse inside

They are really beautiful and definitely worth visiting. I wonder if the one in the grass may need the weeds taking out of it.